Themes and Topics from the English Renaissance 1485-1660
Did Shakespeare write Shakespeare?
In the article “How We Know that Shakespeare Wrote Shakespeare: The Historical Facts,” the authors Reedy, Tom, and David Kathman attempt to prove that Shakespeare undoubtedly wrote his plays. The article is based on confirming the existence of Shakespeare on the facts and documents that are written in history. It begins by introducing William Shakespeare’s life with general facts that include his date of birth, his marriage to Ann Hathaway, and his wealthy roots. In addition, the authors declare that there was in fact a man named William Shakespeare who was an actor for companies, producer of “Shakespeare” plays, and partial owner of the Globe Theater (Reedy). These facts attempt to set the basis of a truthful and accurate article that follows.
The rest of the article attempts to prove that this man William Shakespeare wrote his famous plays of today. There are many examples of times when the name William Shakespeare is linked to his works. One such example is that many of his works are signed in dedication to William Shakespeare as a way to patronage him (Reedy). The poems and plays have been altered over time, but never the dedication. Also, the records of the plays credited to Shakespeare are recorded in documents. The records state the play’s name, the published date to the First Folio, the other publication dates, and the name William Shakespeare (Reedy).
In the end of the essay, the authors state the counterarguments and prove them wrong. One such example is that antistrafordians believe that there was a man named William Shakespeare but it wasn’t the one who lived on Stratford-Upon-Avon (Reedy). The authors disprove that idea by saying the Shakespeare of the plays has in his will the deed of Black Friar’s Gate House in London, which is the residence on Stratford-Upon-Avon (Reedy). Throughout the article, the authors are trying to prove that the information previously stated about William Shakespeare all interconnects to show that a man from Stratford-Upon-Avon did indeed live the life many people associate to him.
Did Henry VIII live in many different palaces throughout his lifetime? If so, what were they like?
Just as Henry VIII lived a luxurious and glamorous life, the homes that he resided in were very excessive. His palaces represented his over-the-top personality and bizarre living habits. These palaces included Greenwich, Westminster, Richmond, Whitehall, Eltham, Hampton Court, New Hall in Essex, and Woodstock in Oxfordshire. He also had about fifty smaller manor houses that were spread out throughout the countryside. Even though Greenwich, Whitehall, and Hampton Court were the largest of Henry’s palaces, all of the previously named palaces were considered “greater houses” because they could hold over 500 people who stayed in the palaces during the winter (Thurley). These great palaces had massive living quarters and catering services to fit the needs of all of Henry VIII’s guests. Greenwich Palace was so large that it had three separate courtyards within its boundaries. It was also where Henry VIII spent most of his rule, and it was the king’s most visited home (Thurley). All of Henry VIII’s closest assistants and court members lived in the palace with him, while some even had additional houses outside of the palace. Since Greenwich was the most prominent palace in Henry VIII’s life, it was used to house foreign leaders when they came to visit the ruler (Thurley). Greenwich had many luxuries that it provided to the people staying in it. The palace had a bakehouse, spicery, fish larder, poultry, buttery, and pantry to provide food. It also had running water, a tennis court, cockpit, bowling alley, and two indoor entertainment halls. Although the size and greatness of these palaces seem somewhat overwhelming and ridiculous, Henry VIII had a reason for designing his homes this way. According to an academic article by Simon Thurley, Henry VIII’s goal was to show “magnificence.” He wanted to establish his power as a ruler through his decorative palaces, and he became very well-known for this.
Human Desire to Defeat Death and Live Eternally:
We know that death is inevitable, but we can't consciously imagine what it would be like to be unconscious. This concept is known as the Mortality Paradox because in our minds, death is both inevitable and impossible (Shermer). The attempt to find a solution to this paradox has resulted in four immortality theories. The first is staying alive, which is the most common theory. The second is resurrection, meaning we will physically rise again.The next is the theory of soul, which is the belief that we will survive as spiritual beings. The fourth and last theory is legacy, which includes more indirect ways of extending our existence such as glory, reputation, historical impact, and children. However, all four methods are incapable of actually providing everlasting life. Scientists are not even close to finding a way to re-engineer the body to live more than 120 years, so staying alive is impossible (Shermer). Furthermore, religious and scientific forms of resurrection fail due to the Transformation Problem. The issue is that it doesn't make sense that someone could be remade exactly the same and yet be invulnerable to disease and death this time (Shermer). The soul hypothesis has been proved impossible as well because neuroscience has shown that the mind cannot exist without the brain (Shermer). Although leaving a legacy does not directly extend one's life, it seems to be the most effective way to "climb Mount Immortality" (Shermer). This is because it is believed that those who produce magnificent works attract mates more easily and therefore have a better chance of producing offspring and thus passing on their creative genes to future generations.
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri was born into a Guleph family (a family that supported the Pope over the Emperor) in the year 1265 in Florence, Italy (Encyclopedia). In the year 1274, Dante met Beatrice Portinari at the house of her father Folco and instantly fell in love, and she did the same with him. However, a year after Dante served with the Florentine cavalry at Campaldino (1290), Beatrice died (Encyclopedia). After losing his love of thirteen years, Dante began to intensely study classical philosophy and Provencal poetry (Encyclopedia). Dante later acknowledged Beatrice as his source of spiritual inspiration. Five years later, Dante married Gemma Donati and had three children. Between 1295 and 1300, Dante became active in Florentine politics, acting as a councilman, elector, and prior (Wilson). As his experience in the political field grew, Dante became increasingly opposed to the power of Pope Boniface VIII (Wilson). This growing opposition eventually led Dante to join the White Gulephs, who battled the Black Gulephs that supported the Pope. With the victory of the Black Gulephs, Dante was held in trial and banished from Florence on January 27th, 1302 (Wilson). As an exile, Dante was considered a citizen of all Italy. It is during this exile that he wrote the Divine Comedy, perhaps his most famous work (Encyclopedia). The poem itself was written as a memorial for Beatrice, and in it Dante travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, eventually reaching God who tells him the meaning of life. As Dante composed this poem while exiled, he poured into it many of his bitter feelings towards the religious and political figures who had wronged him. Dante served various princes during his exile until he died of fever in Ravenna at the court of Guido da Polenta on September 14, 1321 (Wilson).
Julius Caesar, Cassius, Brutus
Was the assassination of Julius Caesar for good or bad?
Julius Caesar was a man who found himself climbing up the ladders of power. He, being one of the greatest military leaders in the history of the world, combined powers with Pompey the Great and Crassus and were known as First Triumvirate. They controlled Rome during the 50's BC. In 49 BC, after Crassus' death, Caesar and Pompey went to war. Caesar become allies with the cheftains of central Gual and when they were attacked by Germany, they asked Caesar to defend them. So after he finished his current battle, he attacked the Germans and sent them running back home. Within the following several years and many campaigns, the Romans finally conquered Gual and made it apart of the homeland. As he was getting ready for an attack from the Celtic's, he sailed along the English Channel to secure the possible flanks in the summers of 55 and 54 BC. As he continued his absolute domination for power, he was faced with a Gallic cheftain revolution which he ended in 50 BC. In any kind of long term control, the ruler makes many enemies, even some that were once very close to him. Caesar was assassinated by two of his dear friends that literally stabbed him in the back. They did this for, what they thought, would be the best for the Roman Empire, or what was left of it at that point. This was honestly an incredible feat because nobody would ever think that your best friends would turn on you like that (H. W. Wilson).
The Magna Carta
How does the Magna Carta affect people today?
The Magna Carta, the founding document of American liberties, was obtained from King John of England in 1215. This document was a charter of liberty and political rights, allowing for the formation of a powerful parliament. Even 800 years after the Magna Carta was written, its principles are still followed and looked to for guidance. Its' principles have become the basis for the English citizens' rights. Although most of the ideas found in this document have either been revised or repealed, the Magna Carta is still used as the outline for modern democracies. Judges in United States federal courts, along with U.S. Supreme Court Justices, are influenced by the Magna Carta. British and American law, along with authors of founding documents of our nation, such as James Madison, have been impacted by the words of the Magna Carta. This document is the cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution, leading way to the right of "due process" of law. This is because the Magna Carta put limits on the king's power. By the end of the 13th century, the idea of a "higher law" was thought of. This concept, which also came from the ideas found in the Magna Carta, was embraced by the leaders of the American Revolution and is a part of the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court that we have today. (Kasper)
Sir Thomas Wyatt
Sir Thomas Wyatt was born to a wealthy family in Allington Castle near Kent in 1503. As he got older, he took up poetry and grew to be one of the most talented poets of his time period. Although, like most people, his work was not recognized until he passed away. Historians do not know much of his early education, however it has been recorded that he attended St. John's College, University of Cambridge when he was a teenager. When Wyatt was 17, he was married to Elizabeth Brooke and had a son who was named Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger. He then divorced her a few years later on the claim of adultery. After his divorce he became more involved with government and high officials. He accompanied officials on a diplomatic mission to France, was named High Marshall of Calais, Commissioner of the peace, and the king and queen's aid. He was knighted in 1535 but then imprisoned shortly after for fighting with a duke and being suspected of being the queen's lover. He had many other mishaps and was in and out of confinement frequently. Throughout his crazy life he started writing poetry. He compounded many different kinds of poems including odes, satires, songs, and sonnets. He is most famous for being one of the first poets to ever write a sonnet in the English language. (Jokinen)
The Plague
Was Yersinia pestis the only bacteria responsible for the Black Death and all those who died?
It's a well accepted fact that the Black Death was possibly the most devastating epidemic in European history, possibly world history. The question is, though, was there only one bacteria that was responsible for the mass deaths during the plague years? The main argument is that, yes, it was Y. pestis that was the main ailment in the plague times though, according to Theilmann, "no one disease alone could have caused [the] high mortality rate." That being said, there are a number of studies that try to reveal what the other diseases could have been involved, as well as how they could have spread. While it is widely accepted that it was Y. pestis there are many who have proven that there were other diseases present during plague times. The main other disease that has been found in the dental pulp of individuals found in mass burial sites is trench fever (Drancourt). This bacteria (Bartonella quintana) has been known to travel with the help of body lice, a pest common in this time period (Drancourt). Y. pestis has also been shown to have the ability to travel on the same body lice as the B. quintana (Drancourt). This shows how the disease could have spread quickly and been as devastating as it was in the multiple pandemics that broke out.
Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada is known for failing miserably at attacking England. At the time, Phillip II was king of Spain, and he wanted to send out the Armada to attack England in 1588. From the beginning, things did not look good for the Armada. Preparations started in 1586, but a surprise attack by Sir Francis Drake of England put a halt to the fleet. When the fleet went out under the control of Medina Sidonia, they were supposed to pick up Alessandro Farnese's (duke of Parma) army. However, a storm forced them to go a different route. Then the English attacked from long range. The Armada was damaged, but it stayed together in formation. Sidonia continued on his way to Parma. He anchored on August 6, hoping to make contact. The following night, the British attacked. This caused the fleet to disperse, and was the beginning of the end of the Armada. Some of the fleet was able to escape, but that didn't make them safe. Provisions gave out, and if they landed in Ireland, most were killed by British troops. Therefore, only half of the fleet made it home.
Themes and Topics from the English Renaissance 1485-1660
Did Shakespeare write Shakespeare?
In the article “How We Know that Shakespeare Wrote Shakespeare: The Historical Facts,” the authors Reedy, Tom, and David Kathman attempt to prove that Shakespeare undoubtedly wrote his plays. The article is based on confirming the existence of Shakespeare on the facts and documents that are written in history. It begins by introducing William Shakespeare’s life with general facts that include his date of birth, his marriage to Ann Hathaway, and his wealthy roots. In addition, the authors declare that there was in fact a man named William Shakespeare who was an actor for companies, producer of “Shakespeare” plays, and partial owner of the Globe Theater (Reedy). These facts attempt to set the basis of a truthful and accurate article that follows.
The rest of the article attempts to prove that this man William Shakespeare wrote his famous plays of today. There are many examples of times when the name William Shakespeare is linked to his works. One such example is that many of his works are signed in dedication to William Shakespeare as a way to patronage him (Reedy). The poems and plays have been altered over time, but never the dedication. Also, the records of the plays credited to Shakespeare are recorded in documents. The records state the play’s name, the published date to the First Folio, the other publication dates, and the name William Shakespeare (Reedy).
In the end of the essay, the authors state the counterarguments and prove them wrong. One such example is that antistrafordians believe that there was a man named William Shakespeare but it wasn’t the one who lived on Stratford-Upon-Avon (Reedy). The authors disprove that idea by saying the Shakespeare of the plays has in his will the deed of Black Friar’s Gate House in London, which is the residence on Stratford-Upon-Avon (Reedy). Throughout the article, the authors are trying to prove that the information previously stated about William Shakespeare all interconnects to show that a man from Stratford-Upon-Avon did indeed live the life many people associate to him.
Did Henry VIII live in many different palaces throughout his lifetime? If so, what were they like?
Just as Henry VIII lived a luxurious and glamorous life, the homes that he resided in were very excessive. His palaces represented his over-the-top personality and bizarre living habits. These palaces included Greenwich, Westminster, Richmond, Whitehall, Eltham, Hampton Court, New Hall in Essex, and Woodstock in Oxfordshire. He also had about fifty smaller manor houses that were spread out throughout the countryside. Even though Greenwich, Whitehall, and Hampton Court were the largest of Henry’s palaces, all of the previously named palaces were considered “greater houses” because they could hold over 500 people who stayed in the palaces during the winter (Thurley). These great palaces had massive living quarters and catering services to fit the needs of all of Henry VIII’s guests. Greenwich Palace was so large that it had three separate courtyards within its boundaries. It was also where Henry VIII spent most of his rule, and it was the king’s most visited home (Thurley). All of Henry VIII’s closest assistants and court members lived in the palace with him, while some even had additional houses outside of the palace. Since Greenwich was the most prominent palace in Henry VIII’s life, it was used to house foreign leaders when they came to visit the ruler (Thurley). Greenwich had many luxuries that it provided to the people staying in it. The palace had a bakehouse, spicery, fish larder, poultry, buttery, and pantry to provide food. It also had running water, a tennis court, cockpit, bowling alley, and two indoor entertainment halls. Although the size and greatness of these palaces seem somewhat overwhelming and ridiculous, Henry VIII had a reason for designing his homes this way. According to an academic article by Simon Thurley, Henry VIII’s goal was to show “magnificence.” He wanted to establish his power as a ruler through his decorative palaces, and he became very well-known for this.
Human Desire to Defeat Death and Live Eternally:
We know that death is inevitable, but we can't consciously imagine what it would be like to be unconscious. This concept is known as the Mortality Paradox because in our minds, death is both inevitable and impossible (Shermer). The attempt to find a solution to this paradox has resulted in four immortality theories. The first is staying alive, which is the most common theory. The second is resurrection, meaning we will physically rise again.The next is the theory of soul, which is the belief that we will survive as spiritual beings. The fourth and last theory is legacy, which includes more indirect ways of extending our existence such as glory, reputation, historical impact, and children. However, all four methods are incapable of actually providing everlasting life. Scientists are not even close to finding a way to re-engineer the body to live more than 120 years, so staying alive is impossible (Shermer). Furthermore, religious and scientific forms of resurrection fail due to the Transformation Problem. The issue is that it doesn't make sense that someone could be remade exactly the same and yet be invulnerable to disease and death this time (Shermer). The soul hypothesis has been proved impossible as well because neuroscience has shown that the mind cannot exist without the brain (Shermer). Although leaving a legacy does not directly extend one's life, it seems to be the most effective way to "climb Mount Immortality" (Shermer). This is because it is believed that those who produce magnificent works attract mates more easily and therefore have a better chance of producing offspring and thus passing on their creative genes to future generations.
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri was born into a Guleph family (a family that supported the Pope over the Emperor) in the year 1265 in Florence, Italy (Encyclopedia). In the year 1274, Dante met Beatrice Portinari at the house of her father Folco and instantly fell in love, and she did the same with him. However, a year after Dante served with the Florentine cavalry at Campaldino (1290), Beatrice died (Encyclopedia). After losing his love of thirteen years, Dante began to intensely study classical philosophy and Provencal poetry (Encyclopedia). Dante later acknowledged Beatrice as his source of spiritual inspiration. Five years later, Dante married Gemma Donati and had three children. Between 1295 and 1300, Dante became active in Florentine politics, acting as a councilman, elector, and prior (Wilson). As his experience in the political field grew, Dante became increasingly opposed to the power of Pope Boniface VIII (Wilson). This growing opposition eventually led Dante to join the White Gulephs, who battled the Black Gulephs that supported the Pope. With the victory of the Black Gulephs, Dante was held in trial and banished from Florence on January 27th, 1302 (Wilson). As an exile, Dante was considered a citizen of all Italy. It is during this exile that he wrote the Divine Comedy, perhaps his most famous work (Encyclopedia). The poem itself was written as a memorial for Beatrice, and in it Dante travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, eventually reaching God who tells him the meaning of life. As Dante composed this poem while exiled, he poured into it many of his bitter feelings towards the religious and political figures who had wronged him. Dante served various princes during his exile until he died of fever in Ravenna at the court of Guido da Polenta on September 14, 1321 (Wilson).
Julius Caesar, Cassius, Brutus
Was the assassination of Julius Caesar for good or bad?
Julius Caesar was a man who found himself climbing up the ladders of power. He, being one of the greatest military leaders in the history of the world, combined powers with Pompey the Great and Crassus and were known as First Triumvirate. They controlled Rome during the 50's BC. In 49 BC, after Crassus' death, Caesar and Pompey went to war. Caesar become allies with the cheftains of central Gual and when they were attacked by Germany, they asked Caesar to defend them. So after he finished his current battle, he attacked the Germans and sent them running back home. Within the following several years and many campaigns, the Romans finally conquered Gual and made it apart of the homeland. As he was getting ready for an attack from the Celtic's, he sailed along the English Channel to secure the possible flanks in the summers of 55 and 54 BC. As he continued his absolute domination for power, he was faced with a Gallic cheftain revolution which he ended in 50 BC. In any kind of long term control, the ruler makes many enemies, even some that were once very close to him. Caesar was assassinated by two of his dear friends that literally stabbed him in the back. They did this for, what they thought, would be the best for the Roman Empire, or what was left of it at that point. This was honestly an incredible feat because nobody would ever think that your best friends would turn on you like that (H. W. Wilson).
The Magna Carta
How does the Magna Carta affect people today?
The Magna Carta, the founding document of American liberties, was obtained from King John of England in 1215. This document was a charter of liberty and political rights, allowing for the formation of a powerful parliament. Even 800 years after the Magna Carta was written, its principles are still followed and looked to for guidance. Its' principles have become the basis for the English citizens' rights. Although most of the ideas found in this document have either been revised or repealed, the Magna Carta is still used as the outline for modern democracies. Judges in United States federal courts, along with U.S. Supreme Court Justices, are influenced by the Magna Carta. British and American law, along with authors of founding documents of our nation, such as James Madison, have been impacted by the words of the Magna Carta. This document is the cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution, leading way to the right of "due process" of law. This is because the Magna Carta put limits on the king's power. By the end of the 13th century, the idea of a "higher law" was thought of. This concept, which also came from the ideas found in the Magna Carta, was embraced by the leaders of the American Revolution and is a part of the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court that we have today. (Kasper)
Sir Thomas Wyatt
Sir Thomas Wyatt was born to a wealthy family in Allington Castle near Kent in 1503. As he got older, he took up poetry and grew to be one of the most talented poets of his time period. Although, like most people, his work was not recognized until he passed away. Historians do not know much of his early education, however it has been recorded that he attended St. John's College, University of Cambridge when he was a teenager. When Wyatt was 17, he was married to Elizabeth Brooke and had a son who was named Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger. He then divorced her a few years later on the claim of adultery. After his divorce he became more involved with government and high officials. He accompanied officials on a diplomatic mission to France, was named High Marshall of Calais, Commissioner of the peace, and the king and queen's aid. He was knighted in 1535 but then imprisoned shortly after for fighting with a duke and being suspected of being the queen's lover. He had many other mishaps and was in and out of confinement frequently. Throughout his crazy life he started writing poetry. He compounded many different kinds of poems including odes, satires, songs, and sonnets. He is most famous for being one of the first poets to ever write a sonnet in the English language. (Jokinen)
The Plague
Was Yersinia pestis the only bacteria responsible for the Black Death and all those who died?
It's a well accepted fact that the Black Death was possibly the most devastating epidemic in European history, possibly world history. The question is, though, was there only one bacteria that was responsible for the mass deaths during the plague years? The main argument is that, yes, it was Y. pestis that was the main ailment in the plague times though, according to Theilmann, "no one disease alone could have caused [the] high mortality rate." That being said, there are a number of studies that try to reveal what the other diseases could have been involved, as well as how they could have spread. While it is widely accepted that it was Y. pestis there are many who have proven that there were other diseases present during plague times. The main other disease that has been found in the dental pulp of individuals found in mass burial sites is trench fever (Drancourt). This bacteria (Bartonella quintana) has been known to travel with the help of body lice, a pest common in this time period (Drancourt). Y. pestis has also been shown to have the ability to travel on the same body lice as the B. quintana (Drancourt). This shows how the disease could have spread quickly and been as devastating as it was in the multiple pandemics that broke out.
Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada is known for failing miserably at attacking England. At the time, Phillip II was king of Spain, and he wanted to send out the Armada to attack England in 1588. From the beginning, things did not look good for the Armada. Preparations started in 1586, but a surprise attack by Sir Francis Drake of England put a halt to the fleet. When the fleet went out under the control of Medina Sidonia, they were supposed to pick up Alessandro Farnese's (duke of Parma) army. However, a storm forced them to go a different route. Then the English attacked from long range. The Armada was damaged, but it stayed together in formation. Sidonia continued on his way to Parma. He anchored on August 6, hoping to make contact. The following night, the British attacked. This caused the fleet to disperse, and was the beginning of the end of the Armada. Some of the fleet was able to escape, but that didn't make them safe. Provisions gave out, and if they landed in Ireland, most were killed by British troops. Therefore, only half of the fleet made it home.